Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel stressed the need to fortify the internal Lebanese scene against any political or security development in Syria, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Sunday.
He stressed the need “to take in the dangerousness of the developments in Syria in order to avert having Lebanon pay the price of the changes in the neighboring country.”
Full StoryPresident Michel Suleiman has voiced his disappointment with the failure of his initiatives that are aimed at persuading the various rival political parties to return to the national dialogue, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Sunday.
It quoted his visitors as saying that he will likely propose alternate initiatives to persuade factions to return to the all-party talks.
Full StoryGermany announced on Saturday its intention to present financial aid to the various international organizations aimed at assisting refugees in Lebanon.
Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour was informed of Germany's intention to donate USD14.5 million by Germany's Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Dirk Niebel, who visited Lebanon recently.
Full StoryAl-Mustaqbal bloc MP Oqab Saqr said on Saturday that he will file a lawsuit against “all those who were involved in forging recordings of phone conversations between him and members of the Syrian opposition”.
Saqr told Future TV: “Those who accused me of manipulating these tape should get the same penalization they demanded I receive and which is death penalty”.
Full StoryThe United Arab Emirates called its citizens on Saturday to refrain from traveling to Lebanon except in case of utmost necessity.
“We have taken this decision because of the political situation in Lebanon and in surrounding countries,” the Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Butti al-Hamed told Emirates News Agency - WAM , explaining that the ministry is keen on protecting people's safety outside the country.
Full StoryFree Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun warned on Saturday against the danger on Lebanon that could result from Syria's conflict, explaining that al-Qaida's presence would soon be felt in the country.
“Al-Qaida is one step away from being present in Lebanon, and once here, it will announce an (Islamic) Emirate in the north,” Aoun said in front of a delegation of students who won the Antonine University elections.
Full StoryTurkish authorities suspected on Saturday that two men are allegedly monitoring the movement of defected Syrian cleric Sheikh Abdul Jalil al-Saeed, who revealed recently that Syria was planning on assassinating Mufti of Tripoli and the North Sheikh Malek al-Shaar.
According to Future television a Lebanese and a Palestinian are suspected of monitoring Saeed's movement in Istanbul.
Full StorySyrian foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi is currently residing in Lebanon, OTV channel reported on Saturday, after media speculations over his whereabouts.
According to the channel the Syrian official hasn't formally defected the Syrian regime.
Full StoryPresident Michel Suleiman stressed on Saturday the importance of committing to the Baabda declaration to triumph over the developments that the region is passing through.
“Disassociating (the country) from the turmoil in neighboring countries is the only way to prevent Lebanon from being affected by the negative repercussion in the region,” Suleiman said after meeting with security delegations at the Baabda Palace.
Full StoryLebanese Democratic Party leader MP Talal Arslan warned on Saturday from the negative impacts of the developments in Syria on the local situation, calling on officials to abide by the disassociation policy that was adopted by the government.
“We are not abiding by the disassociation policy... Our border (with Syria) isn't under the state's control and the arms are being smuggled into Syria,” Arslan told reporters in a press conference.
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